Tennent Caledonian is freezing on-trade prices on some of its leading brands this year in an effort to help the struggling licensed trade industry.

A price freeze has been announced on Tennent's Lager, Caledonia Best and Magners Golden Draught in 2013.

Tennent Caledonian, which is owned by Irish drinks giant C&C Group, said the measure was aimed at helping pubs, clubs and hotels tackle the challenges faced by "declining drinker visits".

That decline has also impacted on C&C's UK volume sales, with the group reporting a 5.5 per cent drop in Tennent's Lager volumes in the nine months to November 2012, though revenues rose 7.3 per cent.

C&C also reported cider volume sales for the nine months to November 30 were down 4.4 per cent year on year.

John Gilligan, managing director of Tennent Caledonian, said: "We believe that Scotland's pubs, clubs and hotels are at the heart of their communities up and down the country and it's crucial that they continue to thrive.

"We recognise that these are tough times for Scotland's free on-trade and we will continue to support and invest where we can, helping operators control their costs, develop their businesses and build a responsible drinking environment for their customers.

"Today's announcement is further evidence of this commitment and will make a real difference to the Scottish free on-trade in the year ahead."

Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: "Once again, Tennent's has shown its support and commitment to Scotland's pubs, clubs and nightclubs.

"The announcement that the business will be applying a price freeze on all of its major brands is welcome news at a very difficult time for the on-trade in Scotland.

"This price freeze will certainly help our members to control their costs and drive footfall to their premises, which is much needed."

Research published last September by Molson Coors found 703 community pubs have closed in Scotland since 2007 and just 55 have opened in the same period.

Insolvency trade body R3 reported last October 288 pubs and 625 restaurants in Scotland were vulnerable to closure in 2013.